December 21, 2009

Notes with two weeks left to go

The Saints have a magic number for home field advantage: one. Win at home against the hapless Tampa Bay Bucs on Sunday, and they clinch the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

That is only possible thanks to Minnesota's stirring implosion on Sunday night against the Saints' rival Carolina Panthers, a warm and early Christmas gift. It wasn't even the work of former Saint and Louisiana native Jake Delhomme, who was benched. His backup Matt Moore led his team to victory over Brett Favre's Vikings.

The Saints will also clinch the #1 overall seed should Minnesota crash and burn in Chicago next Monday Night.

Reggie Bush's hamstring injury, visibly suffered during a second quarter reception, is minor according to coach Payton. So is Randall Gay's concussion, though Gay will likely miss Sunday's game against the Bucs.

The Saints' one or two playoff games at home have been sold out.

Payton: "Certainly at the end, there were a few plays where I wish I would have done a better job of giving help to Jermon Bushrod down the stretch there." That's a big understatement. DeMarcus Ware, even below 100% health, outclasses a lot of NFL offensive lineman. On Saturday night, Jermon Bushrod was one of them.

Of the Saints' many gaffe Saturday night, Devery Henderson's kneeling drop of a touchdown pass in the third quarter was brutal.

Henderson catches that ball, and the Saints respond to the Cowboys' final score of the night to make it 24-10. It would have been a one-play drive that capitalized on the momentum of Courtney Roby's 67 yard return.

Henderson, who had shaken most of a bad reputation for drops this season, dropped it. The Saints surrendered back-to-back sacks and three incompletions and punted from the Dallas 39 yard line.